Period Correct Tires for A JD B

My 44 B had 11-38's on it when I bought it 30 years ago. Now it has 12.4-38's and looks fine. I think 11-38 was an optional tire size when
new.
 
Sorry, I should have made myself more clear. My B's tires (or the remains) say on the sidewall that they are 10-38. I meant what kind of tread is period correct for a 43 B.
 
1938 tractor field book
https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cv

<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto146319.jpg

cvphoto146320.jpg
 
I have a picture of my dad in the early 50s by his 40B
that does not have spoked rims and it has the kind of
tread where the bars are linked together. Im not sure
what they call that kind of pattern but since yours are
rims with cut off spokes I would guess that any tread
would have been put on them depending on availability.
Tom in Mn.
 
With the price of new tires today and the availability of some sizes I would just get a set of 11 or 12.4-38's and put on. You will have as much as the tractor is worth almost in the cost of tires. Besides if it is just going to be a trailer queen what does it matter if they don't match? I would not worry if they didn't match for that. Working in the field then it could become a different story. Mismatched tires don't pull the same causing different stresses on things and along with not pulling straight or even some tires are not the same height so could work the spider gears more in the differential. Your money.
 
A factory tire was likely a 10 by 38 tire
with a tread where the bars were connected.
If not, than something similar to that.

Truth is, they really don't make the 10
inch anymore, or if you can even find a
place that does, they sure wouldn't be very
common. Same with the tread. Most
manufacturers have went to the V tread with
bars not connected.

If it were me, I wouldn't place much
concern on having period correct tires.
Especially if you got cut off steel wheels.
That would be about like having a period
correct lid, for a non-period correct pot.

If I was going for period correct, I'd go
with all period correct except that. That
would be the one place I'd just use what I
could come up with. If you can't afford
new, then do what you can to have matching
used. And that's probably only as important
as you make it out to be. For me, matching
size would be good enough.

For what it's worth, I had 2 mismatched
tires on an F-20 that I redone. Same size,
but different tread and from different
manufacturers. I don't think anybody ever
noticed that, except me. And I had it in a
couple shows, and alot of parades. I
eventually put on some factory steel, but
that was years and years later.
 
(quoted from post at 14:41:50 01/30/23) What are the period correct tires for a 1943 John Deere B?

Just a simple thin straight 45 degree lug. 11.2x38 would be the modern size.

There really isn't anything that's a perfect match but your less expensive offshore brands tend to have simple, thin lug designs to keep the cost down, so that might be the place to look for new replacements.

It is difficult to find accurate pictures of tires online. I find it much more useful to visit the local tractor tire dealer.
 
Chances are your 1943 tractor shipped on steel wheels due to rubber tire rationing by that part of WW2.

Firestone Ground Grip tires were common on later JD Bs. This is the wrong size for your tractor, but the right tread pattern, https://www.millertire.com/10-28-firestone-champion-ground-grip-rear-tractor-tire-4-ply/
These tires had comparably poor traction in soft ground. They did ride smooth on roads.
 
The link is to miller tire .com : www.millertire.com/10-28-firestone-champion-ground-grip-rear-tractor-tire-4-ply/
 
Firestone Ground Grip and what was on my 46 B with the cast
wheels in a 10x38 size and am sure they were factory
orignals. That was what was pictured in the owners manual
and the size was what was also listed in the manual. Tread
was about 3/4 inch deep. When got tractor traction was
problem. Had a pair of homemade concrete weights had made
for different tractor. Would have weighed over 300 pounds
each. Traction problem gone. The 1944 Ford 2N that Dad
bought new in May of 44 had same tire on it. The size was
10-28. In about 2-3 years when he could get them he put
Kelly tires on it and they lasted for over 20 years. Same
tread design was used on manure spreaders but reversed to
give traction for unloading. I don't remember what the
brand or tread style was on the B. But were 5:00x15 one
orignal when I bought it 1962. Cannot find that tread style
pictured in Miller Tire on line listing but were in there
paper catalogs just a few years ago.
 
Red,the old 10/38 is now 11.2/38. You can get an 11.3/38 in an 'irrigation' tire. A tire used on centerpivot sprinklers. I have a pair on an H, the cost was about $200 per tire less than a regular 'tractor' tire. Downside is the lugs are about half again further apart and only half as tall.Tire hieght is the same as a tractor tire,only the lugs are different. Good enough for a parade tractor.However,I dont like en and would not buy another pair.Nothing wrong,just dont care fore em.
 

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